College vows ‘100 Apprenticeships in 100 days’

 Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) and partners are launching an ambitious campaign to recruit 100 new apprentices in 100 days.  The Newcastle-under-Lyme 100 in 100 Campaign is targeting employers and young people across Newcastle-under-Lyme.  The College and partners aim to hit the target by recruiting both employers to provide Apprenticeship vacancies and young people to start an Apprenticeship.

The ambitious campaign will launch on Friday 15 March, at the College’s Knutton Lane campus during National Apprenticeships Week and run until 22 June 2013.  Over 2,000 employers from Newcastle-under-Lyme have been invited to the event which will feature talks from industry experts and aims to provide local employers with the accurate and impartial advice.

Visitors to the launch event will benefit from talks from
•    Paul Farrelly MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, who is spearheading the campaign.
•    Vicky Boulton-Clarke Head of Employer Engagement at NULC, who will provide local employers with an overview of the campaign and the services available to local businesses.
•    Joanne Bradburn from Barclays Banks PLC, who will introduce their campaign, The Big Conversation, to encourage business banking customers to take on an Apprentice
•    Local employer Kerry Bonfiglio-Bains, who will talk employers through her experience of employing an Apprentice through NULC.

The College currently works with over 400 employers across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire but found that the number of apprentices employed by businesses within the Newcastle-under-Lyme borough was significantly lower than other areas.

Vicky Boulton-Clarke commented: “With that in mind, the College has launched the 100 in 100 campaign to raise the awareness of Apprenticeships across Newcastle-under-Lyme.  We will be specifically targeting employers in Newcastle-under-Lyme, encouraging them to pledge their support to the campaign and improving the employment prospects for young people in the borough.”

In addition, the College in partnership with local training provider Martec, the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and the Stoke and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) will try and address the youth unemployment issues locally.

Vicky added: “With skills shortages across UK businesses, Apprenticeships deliver skills designed around your business needs providing the skilled workers you need for the future.  Apprenticeships can also help you develop the specialist skills you need to keep pace with the latest technology and working practices in your sector.” 

Paul Farrelly MP has already pledged his support to the campaign by writing to businesses in his constituency inviting them to the launch event.  Paul said: “I’m delighted to be working with such a proactive education establishment as Newcastle-under-Lyme College.  The driving force of the campaign is to encourage local businesses to find out more about Apprenticeships and the real business benefits in order to tackle the skills shortages in the area and the wider unemployment issues.  The 100 in 100 campaign can benefit both local employers and youngsters alike and I would urge local employers no matter what your industry to come along to the launch event.”

If you are interested in attending the launch event on Friday 15 March or would like further information about Apprenticeships contact the Employer Engagement Team on 01782 254376 or email employers@nulc.ac.uk. 

Apprenticeship leads to full-time career

An apprentice from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) has secured full-time employment with a local business having completed her Apprenticeship.

Yolanda Mainwaring aged 20 from Alsager, proved to be the model apprentice for local engineering firm, Langley alloys, which have now employed Yolanda as a full-time Operations Administrator.

Yolanda describes her journey from school to full-time employment: “I left school in 2008 and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.  I spent a few years trying different types of study but decided I wanted to do something practical, so I looked into doing an Apprenticeship with Newcastle-under-Lyme College.”

The former Alsager High School pupil continues: “The College provided guidance and support in the various sectors that Apprenticeships are available in and helped me to find a placement at Langley Alloys.  Through doing an Apprenticeship I was able to earn a weekly wage whilst learning in a real working environment.”

NULC currently provides Apprenticeships in more than a dozen areas including Accounting, Business and Administration, Construction, Childcare, Electrical Installation, Engineering, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Retail and IT.

Langley Alloys is one of more than 400 businesses across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who work with the College to provide Apprenticeship placements.  Last year the College reported a record increase in the number of people taking up an Apprenticeship, resulting in a need for more employers to offer apprentice roles within their organisations. 

Neil Barlow, NVQ Assessor at NULC said: “The College works very closely with local businesses to ensure that we meet the needs of both the business and the apprentice.  Apprenticeships are proving to be an increasingly popular way for local businesses to meet their staffing needs and we’re always looking to work with more local employers to provide apprentice roles.”

Langley Alloys, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme was founded in 1938 and has a worldwide reputation for inventing and supporting advanced stainless steels, nickel and bronze alloys. 

Operations Director of Langley Alloys, Mike Hickman said: “Our philosophy is to invest in the local area, particularly with young people.  Yolanda was our third apprentice and the second from Newcastle-under-Lyme College.  We have been very impressed with the service we received from the College in terms of recruitment and also ongoing support for Yolanda.  In fact, employing our Apprentice’s in partnership with Newcastle-under-Lyme College was such a success that we’re currently talking to the College about recruiting another apprentice in our Warehousing department.”

Reflecting on choosing to study an Apprenticeship, Yolanda said: “Studying an Apprenticeship has changed my life.  I went from leaving school not really knowing what I wanted to do and have ended up with a career in a successful and growing company.  Apprenticeships are a fantastic alternative to academic study and provide you with on the job experience which is relevant to the work place.”

To find out more about Newcastle-under-Lyme College’s apprenticeships and other workplace training programmes visit www.nulc.ac.uk/employer or contact the Employer Training team on 01782 254376.

In the Spotlight…Business Apprenticeships

NULC works closely with more than 400 local employers to provide Apprenticeships in a variety of areas.  In this blog post we’re taking a look at the type of training available in the Business sector. 

We have a range Apprenticeships and NVQs that can be delivered in the workplace, from Level 2 through to Level 5.  Qualifications available include Business and Administration, Management, Accounting, IT, Retail, Warehousing and Customer Service. 

Here Kerry Bonfiglio-Bains, Owner of Appointments Personnel Recruitment Agency in Newcastle, Staffordshire discusses how employing a Business Administration Apprentice through NULC has worked for her business.

 

With an apprentice salary starting at around £97 per week, employers can benefit from an extra member of staff and receive ongoing support from an experienced apprenticeship assessor who will visit the apprentice in the workplace to minimise disruption to the business.

Vicky Boulton Clarke, Head of Employer Engagement at NULC said: “Apprenticeships are a unique, low-cost and low-risk way of ensuring that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future.”

“What’s more, the College takes care of the entire apprentice recruitment process right up to the shortlist for final interviews.  This provides the employer with significant cost savings in terms of recruitment fees whilst allowing them to make the final decision as to who will join the organisation.”

“As we see it, working with employers to create opportunities like this are vital in supporting government agenda to reduce youth unemployment and crucial to developing skills that support economic growth.”

To find out more about the College’s Apprenticeships and employer training programmes contact the Employer Engagement Team on employer@nulc.ac.uk or call 01782 254376.

In the Spotlight…Engineering Apprenticeships

NULC works closely with more than 400 local employers to provide Apprenticeships in a variety of areas.  In this blog post we’re taking a look at the type of training available in the Engineering sector. 

A range of Engineering Apprenticeships and NVQs are delivered in the workplace, including Electro-technical, Engineering, Engineering Construction, Engineering Manufacture, Performance Maintenance Operations and Engineering Technical Support.  These are delivered at various levels, starting at Level 2 qualifications through to Foundation degrees.

Here Leigh Turley, Engineering Manager for Transmission at ABB in Stone, Staffordshire discusses how employing an Engineering Apprentice through NULC has worked for the international engineering company.

With an apprentice salary starting at around £97 per week, employers can benefit from an extra member of staff and receive ongoing support from an experienced apprenticeship assessor who will visit the apprentice in the workplace to minimise disruption to the business.

Vicky Boulton Clarke, Head of Employer Engagement at NULC said: “Apprenticeships are a unique, low-cost and low-risk way of ensuring that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future.”

“What’s more, the College takes care of the entire apprentice recruitment process right up to the shortlist for final interviews.  This provides the employer with significant cost savings in terms of recruitment fees whilst allowing them to make the final decision as to who will join the organisation.”

“As we see it, working with employers to create opportunities like this are vital in supporting government agenda to reduce youth unemployment and crucial to developing skills that support economic growth.”
To find out more about the Engineering Apprenticeships at NULC click here.

To find out more about the College’s Apprenticeships and employer training programmes contact the Employer Engagement Team on employer@nulc.ac.uk or call 01782 254376.

Forklift truck training now available to local employers

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) is now accredited with RTITB to deliver ‘On Customer Premises’ forklift truck training for Reach and Counter balance trucks.  

We are able to offer both Novice and Refresher training in line with RTITB and HSE regulations for lift truck operation. 

The course will be completed on your company premises using your lift truck which means the operator is trained or refreshed on the equipment they will be expected to use on a day-to-day basis rather than at a centre away from the workplace on unfamiliar equipment.

To find out more about the training contact the NULC Employer Engagement team on 01782 254376 or email employer@nulc.ac.uk.

In the Spotlight…Hairdressing Apprenticeships

NULC works closely with more than 400 local employers to provide Apprenticeships in a variety of areas.  In this blog post we’re taking a look at the type of training available in the Hairdressing sector. 

We work with a range of local salons to provide apprenticeship and training opportunities at Level 2 and Level 3 inHairdressing.  This year sees the introduction of Beauty Therapy Apprenticeships and also a new flexible approach to deliver training to apprentices that suits the needs of employers.   

We’re encouraging all local salons to join our business club to be involved in developing our training offer to enable us to identify skills gaps and tailor programmes to exceed those needs.

Here Steve Goodwin, Owner of Signature Hair Salon in Stoke-on-Trent discusses how employing a Hairdressing Apprentice through NULC has worked for the salon.

With an apprentice salary starting at around £97 per week, employers can benefit from an extra member of staff and receive ongoing support from an experienced apprenticeship assessor who will visit the apprentice in the workplace to minimise disruption to the business.

Vicky Boulton Clarke, Head of Employer Engagement at NULC said: “Apprenticeships are a unique, low-cost and low-risk way of ensuring that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future.”

“What’s more, the College takes care of the entire apprentice recruitment process right up to the shortlist for final interviews.  This provides the employer with significant cost savings in terms of recruitment fees whilst allowing them to make the final decision as to who will join the organisation.”

“As we see it, working with employers to create opportunities like this are vital in supporting government agenda to reduce youth unemployment and crucial to developing skills that support economic growth.”

To find out more about the Level 2 Apprenticeship in Hairdressingclick here.

To find out more about the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Hairdressingclick here.

If you’re a local employer who would like to find out more about how Apprenticeships could work for you business contact Phil Davies, Business Development Manager for Hair and Beauty at NULC on philip.davies@nulc.ac.uk or call 01782 254122.

In the Spotlight…Childcare Apprenticeships

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) works closely with more than 400 local employers to provide Apprenticeships in a variety of areas.  In this blog post we’re taking a look at the type of training available in the Childcare sector. 

Children and Young People’s Workforce Apprenticeships (formerly childcare) are delivered to local nursery, childcare, early years settings and schools.  There are two levels available, Level 2 and Level 3, with potential to progress to a Foundation degree in Early Childhood Studies.

Here Ian Picken, Business Development Manager at John Baskeyfield VC CofE Primary School in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent discusses how employing a Childcare Apprentice through NULC has worked for the school.

With an apprentice salary starting at around £97 per week, employers can benefit from an extra member of staff and receive ongoing support from an experienced apprenticeship assessor who will visit the apprentice in the workplace to minimise disruption to the business.

Vicky Boulton Clarke, Head of Employer Engagement at NULCsaid: “Apprenticeships are a unique, low-cost and low-risk way of ensuring that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future.”

“What’s more, the College takes care of the entire apprentice recruitment process right up to the shortlist for final interviews.  This provides the employer with significant cost savings in terms of recruitment fees whilst allowing them to make the final decision as to who will join the organisation.”

“As we see it, working with employers to create opportunities like this are vital in supporting government agenda to reduce youth unemployment and crucial to developing skills that support economic growth.”

To find out more about the Level 2 Apprenticeship in Children and Young People’s Workforce click here.

To find out more about the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Children and Young People’s Workforce click here.

To find out more about the Foundation degree in Early Childhood studies which is offered in partnership with Staffordshire Universityclick here.

To find out more about the College’s Apprenticeships and employer training programmes contact the Employer Engagement Team on employer@nulc.ac.uk or call 01782 254376.